I reckon there's more Cross-Triangle stock branded with the Tailholt Mountain iron than all the rest of you put together have lost, which sure entitles me to a front seat when it comes, to the show-down." "He's right, boys," said one of the older men.
"You know I'm right, Tom," returned the Dean quickly.

"You an' me have lived neighbors for pretty near thirty years, without ever a hard word passed between us, an' we've been through some mighty serious troubles together; an' you, too, George, an' Henry an' Bill.

The rest of you boys I have known since you was little kids; an' me and your daddies worked an' fought side by side for decent livin' an' law-abidin' times before you was born.

We did it 'cause we didn't want our children to go through with what we had to go through, or do some of the things that we had to do.

An' now you're all thinkin' that you can cut me out of this.